Finding Your Seat at the Table

Service on Institutional Review Boards (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC) is an uncommon activity for librarians. Even librarians who participate in institutional research activities in a supportive capacity or conduct their own original research as scholars themselves and are familiar with the IRB/IACUC research approval process, they may hesitate to participate more fully with these boards.

There may be a perception that the work of the IRB and IACUC is too scientifically complex for librarians without an appropriate background. Library administrators may not advocate for librarian inclusion on the board for fear of additional burdens on the librarian's time; and university administrators might need some convincing of the librarian's suitability to perform this work.

This book provides librarians with foundational knowledge of the IRB and IACUC, describes the work of these important committees, and expands librarians'…